Club versus country tensions have surfaced ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup after national teams were urged not to summon players for training camps until a FIFA-mandated release date.
The European Club Association (ECA) said in a statement that it was concerned about the “current widespread practice” by national federations to call up players early, in breach of mandatory rest periods.
FIFA rules require players in the 32 Women’s World Cup squads to report to national teams on July 10 — 10 days before the start of the month-long tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
That deadline for clubs to release their players is more than five weeks after the UEFA Women’s Champions League final on June 3 that caps the European season.
But the ECA warning comes after some national teams started camps in May for a July 6 start in European Championship last summer, including by eventual winners England.
Sarina Wiegman’s squad are already planning a final warm-up game in early July, before arriving in Australia on July 7.
ECA head of women’s football, Claire Bloomfield, said the issue was “a serious concern for player welfare.”
“The issue of early call-ups is a hangover from the game in its amateur form and is detrimental to the future success and growth of…
 said in a statement that it was concerned about the “current widespread practice” by national federations to call up players early, in breach of mandatory rest periods. FIFA rules require players in the 32 Women’s World Cup squads to report to national teams on July 10 — 10 days before the start of the month-long tournament in Australia...){kind=link}